says america is on its way to a good year when it comes to the economy. but there is a big if here. ali velshi has some thoughts. he's up next. >>> president obama says he won't negotiate any spending cuts with a gun held up to the head of the american people. from the cnn money newsroom, in new york, i'm ali velshi. this is your money. apple gets a bite taken out of its stock. toyota and gm are neck and neck again. first gold and now oil. california will be a prospector's dream again. and stocks are up, but should they be? first, president obama spoke with reporters today emphasizing his position that the debt ceiling is not a license to spend more. it is about paying bills that congress has already agreed to. he likened it to stiffing the waiter at a nice restaurant after gorging on a meal. >> you don't go out to dinner, and then, you know, eat all you want, and then leave without paying the check. and if you do, you're breaking the law. >> u.s. hit the debt ceiling on december 31st. the treasury is using so-called extraordinary measures to put off any